EGP bringing down barriers with golf initiatives

The England Golf Partnership, which has the ambitious target of making England the leading golf nation by 2020, is opening up doors to all sections of society with particular success at bringing down the barriers for disabled people and women.

As a result of its on-going commitment to growing the game, the EGP has been recognised with a Sport England-endorsed equality standard award.

Latest developments have seen the creation of a special forum to improve access to golf for people with a range of disabilities.

Kirsty Jennings, EGP compliance officer, explained how a strategic approach to the problem was helping bring down the barriers.

“The forum meets every three months and brings together representatives from various disability groups including the blind, deaf, Mencap, amputees and Special Olympics, and we examine ways of improving their access to golf,” she said.

“The idea is to get round the table, decide what we need to do to encourage more of them into golf and for those already playing how we can make the experience even better.”

One project set to be showcased in a special DVD which will includecontributions from Peter Alliss and BBC presenter John Inverdale, is taking place at Shirley Golf Club in Birmingham which is helping local disabled children come into the club and give it a go.

Elsewhere in the community, the EGP has also undertaken initiatives in Luton to get more women and girls playing the game.

“We had a free lessons day at Stockwood Park and women from moms tograndmothers came along and it was a great success,” added Jennings.

Among the other schemes being co-ordinated by the EGP are a children’s youth panel and an Asian women’s group in addition to a range of inner city initiatives.

The EGP was launched two years ago and brings together The ProfessionalGolfers‘ Association (PGA), English Women’s Golf Association and English Golf Union and is supported by both the Golf Foundation and Sport England.

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